WS Merwin, Robert Graves and Rainer Maria Rilke explore the Wheel of the world, where there is no wheel. Broadcast LIVE Wednesdays, 10 AM on https://player.enlightenradio.org Hosts: Janet Harrison, John Case This Episode Recorded 12/06/2023
The Subject is Poetry
by HS Merwin
On the Subject of Poetry
I do not understand the world, Father.
By the millpond at the end of the garden
There is a man who slouches listening
To the wheel revolving in the stream, only
There is no wheel there to revolve.
He sits in the end of March, but he sits also
In the end of the garden; his hands are in
His pockets. It is not expectation
On which he is intent, nor yesterday
To which he listens. It is a wheel turning.
When I speak, Father, it is the world
That I must mention. He does not move
His feet nor so much as raise his head
For fear he should disturb the sound he hears
Like a pain without a cry, where he listens.
I do not think I am fond, Father,
Of the way in which always before he listens
He prepares himself by listening. It is
Unequal, Father, like the reason
For which the wheel turns, though there is no wheel.
I speak of him, Father, because he is
There with his hands in his pockets, in the end
Of the garden listening to the turning
Wheel that is not there, but it is the world,
Father, that I do not understand.
–W. S. Merwin, from his book The Dancing Bears
Our Blog Our Player Our Podcasts
questions, comments: jcase4218@gmail.com
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: February 10: More Romance
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: February 10: More Romance
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: February 3: Valentines
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 20, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 13, Rory's Story Cubes
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: January 6: Teachin' and Tattlin'
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 30: Beginnings and Endings
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 23: Legends
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 9: Holiday traditions
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: December 2: Winter tales
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: November 18: Fanny and Stas share owl stories
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 28: Scary stories
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 21: Disasters
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 14: Alter Egos
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: October 7: Ice Cream as Introduction
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: September 30: School Days
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: September 23: Interview with Jim May
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: September 16: Conundrums
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: September 9: Jack and the Beanstalk
Enlighten Radio: The Storytelling Hour: August 12: Funny stories
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
I SHAKE MY HEAD
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Voices of Misery Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL